Diabetes Blog Info

Human cloning (HC) may become a valuable tool in the arsenal of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). At present art includes in vitro fertilization and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, methods that allow infertile couples to have children and to facilitate the birth children who are freed from the possibility of developing certain genetic diseases.

HC will improve this directory of assisted reproduction, which makes it possible for couples who are both infertile to have children genetically related to one of parents. HC will make possible the birth of a child who is a histocompatible match close for a brother or relative who is dying of a terminal, but the disease can be treated. And, HC makes possible the birth of a child who is genetically identical to a parent or a brother killed in an accident. They are all compelling justification to allow HC research.

HC will also help those children who are inspired by motives a little less altruistic than those mentioned above. Some parents may strongly desire to have a child with special physical characteristics, skill sets and abilities. A parent may wish to clone herself, because she believes that her specific instantiation of the human genome is a superior combination. Or parents could want to clone a known genome in the hope of having a child with a similar future. These parents would clone a star basketball or actress beautiful and graceful film, hoping to raise a child with similar perspectives in life.

But these reasons for cloning are fatally flawed. The clone is nearly identical genetic copy of the individual which is cloned. This fact does not mean, however, that the expression of these genes will prove be the same. Gene expression, ie which genes are activated and are turned off at specific times and for a specific duration, is highly variable and depends on many factors, both known and unknown. All elements of the environment of an individual, including nutrition, physical activity, interpersonal relationships, stress and rest, to help time-by-moment expression of genes. We can understand it clearly when considering the identical twins. These brothers and sisters are unique individuals with interests and unique abilities and children who are clones will surely become clearly distinct from those of their genetic twins.

Genetic heritage of a man is simply the point Starting in human development and experience. Nature (genetic inheritance) more strongly linked to physical characteristics of a person – eg size, weight, hair color and eyes, and trends to acquire or develop diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and some cancers. A person who is – their interests, abilities and qualities – are much better understood as the result of infant feeding. And culture is best understood as the mechanism by which genes are expressed. The person that the child is a clone is the product becomes both the genetic and expression of genes – nature and nurture. And this is exactly the same as any child created via the method standard of sexual reproduction.

David Lemberg, M.S. in Bioethics, Albany Medical College, May 2010
Consultant, Author, Speaker. Research interests – health care and health care policy, reproductive technologies, genetics and genomics, K-12 science education
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